Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “draft contracts and amendments from templates”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

60 min
typically, a few times a week
55%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Generate contracts from a questionnaire in your CLM

Ironclad, DocuSign CLM, Juro, Agiloft, Icertis and similar tools build the draft from a few answers (party, term, price, options), so the right clauses go in every time.

Typically saves about 55% of the time8 h to set up
  1. 1Pick your three highest-volume contract types.
  2. 2Turn each into a template with conditional clauses in your CLM.
  3. 3Let sales or procurement fill in the questionnaire themselves.
  4. 4Route only non-standard requests to legal.

Tools: Ironclad · DocuSign CLM · Juro · Agiloft · Icertis · Conga

Fix 2 of 2

AI

Have AI draft the amendment or side letter from the deal terms

Give AI the original clause, the agreed change and your template; it drafts the amendment for you to review.

Typically saves about 45% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Use an AI tool approved for confidential documents.
  2. 2Paste the relevant original clauses, the agreed changes and your amendment template.
  3. 3Use the prompt below.
  4. 4Review definitions and cross-references carefully before sending.
Prompt to copy
Draft an amendment to the [AGREEMENT NAME] dated [DATE] between [PARTY A] and [PARTY B], using our template below. Agreed changes: [LIST]. Original clauses affected: [PASTE]. Keep defined terms consistent with the original, update cross-references, and add a standard "all other terms remain in effect" clause. Mark anything ambiguous with [CHECK].

Template:
[PASTE]

Tools: Enterprise ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot (approved for confidential data) · Spellbook · Copilot in Word

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

In-house counselContract managerParalegal / legal operations

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Other common tasks for In-house counsel